Italian novelist Giuseppe di Lampedusa (1896–1957) was a wealthy Sicilian prince who drew on his family’s history for his internationally acclaimed work Il Gattopardo ("The Leopard"), published posthumously in 1958. In urbane, elegant style, Lampedusa depicts the demise of an old, aristocratic society that came about with the unification of Italy. Lampedusa managed to transform what he himself saw as "a largely wasted life" into one of the most controversial and admired novels of the century. His only other fictional work, I racconti, is a collection of short stories that appeared in 1961.

The Great Writers series offers an informative and revealing look into the lives and literary output of 20th-century writers, both American and international, whose groundbreaking works made a major impact on both literature and society around the globe. Each DVD presents a biography of the writer's life as well as examining the social and political events that influenced their work. Archival documents, interviews, and insightful commentary help place each writer's literary contributions into historical perspective.